Pitso regards Chiefs as title favourites

Pitso Mosimane (above) was upbeat after Mamelodi Sundowns’ Shell Helix Cup loss to Kaizer Chiefs, even though his side slipped to a 4-2 defeat on Saturday at the FNB Stadium.

Sundowns were 4-0 down by half-time, as Mosimane rested several key players, while others were away on international duty, but the Masandawana head coach refused to use that as an excuse for his side’s loss.

“It was important that we gave everyone a chance to play. If we don’t give guys a chance to play in this kind of game, what match are we going to give them?” said Mosimane.

“The last time we played here in the Shell Helix Cup we did the same thing and we won the cup. Unfortunately this time it was not the way it was last year, but this is football and you learn to accept defeat. Chiefs did well, they were clinical.

“A lot of positives came out of the game … it is unbelievable what I have learned today about my team.”

Mosimane was full of praise for Chiefs, who he believes are favourites to win the Absa Premiership title this season.

“Kaizer Chiefs are a strong, physical team, a hard-running team, a very competitive team. That is the difference between the Chiefs of last season to this one. I still have them as favourites to win the league – not everyone can score four goals against Sundowns.”

Mosimane also praised the work of former Sundowns strikers Leonardo Castro and Khama Billiat, who shared Chiefs’ goals between them, with Castro grabbing a hat trick.

“It reminded me of my days with them, it came back to bite me!” said Mosimane.

A lot of positives – it is unbelievable what I have learned today about my team